Breed Spotlight: Smooth Fox Terrier

Coat Type and Colors

The smooth fox terrier’s coat is as their name suggests. They have a smooth double coat that, similar to the wire fox terrier, is primarily white with other markings. Smooth fox terriers can be found in the following color combinations:

• White
• White and black
• White and tan
• White, black, and tan

Ears

Like the wire foxie, smooth fox terriers have small ears that are V-shaped and fall close to the faces. As mentioned, their ears should be cleaned often to prevent wax buildup and ear infections.

Shedding and Grooming

While smooth fox terriers are moderate shedders, they require minimal grooming to maintain their beautiful coats. Their coats can be bathed on an as-needed basis, but their ears and teeth should be cleaned as often as possible to prevent infections.

Drooling Level

Smooth fox terriers are not known to be droolers, so you can rest assured that your favorite fabrics should be slobber-free.

Behavior

Smooth fox terriers are bubbly and affectionate dogs who have a protective nature when it comes to their people. Play is a way of life for them, so they’re best suited for high-energy environments that can match their lively temperament.

Exercise Needs

This high-energy bundle of joy needs a good amount of exercise to fulfill their needs. Smooth fox terriers are well-suited for morning jogs and walks around your neighborhood, along with games of fetch in the backyard. They also respond well to mental stimulation like puzzle toys to wear them out.

Good With Other Pets?

Smooth fox terriers can be trained to do well with other pets in the home, but they’re best suited as the only apple of their owner’s eye. Due to their terrier bloodline, they have a tendency to boss around their fellow canine siblings and may display aggression if it’s not handled appropriately.

Trainability

This breed is known for their high intelligence, which makes the breed incredibly easy to train when they’re puppies. As they age, they can become stubborn and more difficult to train, so early intervention is key. Smooth fox terriers have the potential to excel in learning fun tricks — they’re sometimes shown as trick dogs in circuses, and even succeed in agility and trick competitions.

Good with Kids?

Smooth fox terriers are great family dogs due to their high energy level. They’ll be sure to keep your kids busy, and you’ll thank your kids for tiring out this hyper pup. They do best with families that have children older than 5 due to their smaller size, but can adapt well to families with younger children.

Barking Level

Like most terriers, the smooth foxie is likely to bark, but this can be controlled with proper training.

Smooth Fox Terrier History

The smooth fox terrier comes from a line of fox hunting terriers in England as far back as the mid-1800s.³ The breed was kept in a saddlebag and released when foxes went underground, explaining the modern-day breed’s tendency to dig and hunt as a means of releasing energy. Broken coated (modern-day wire fox terriers) and smooth terriers were originally part of the same breed, known as the fox terrier — the breed didn’t split until the mid-1980s, when they were distinguished as smooth fox terrier and wire fox terrier